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There's no word on whether or not the man who picked up the tab for her trip, aka the Donald Trump of Abu Dhabi, was with her entourage.

In Montreal, Quebec five Italian cafes have been firebombed in less than a month, and none of the victims are talking as reported by Sidhartha Banerjee for The Star: The head of the Montreal police arson squad said his detectives are mulling a number of theories, but, with merchants remaining mute, all they have are hypotheses. There's the possibility that a Mafia war has erupted. Or perhaps a brazen street gang is trying to move in on the Mob's turf. Or maybe rival gangs are battling among themselves. Police have even considered an arsonist with a particular penchant for putting...

In a story that first surfaced Sunday in The Washington Post and was reprinted by FOXNews.com, President Obama’s subordinates have expressed a desire to get a grip on the nation’s rails. Administration officials cite poor management and lack of oversight as their reasons for taking over the light-rail industry, which leads me to wonder: could the American people take back the federal government using the same line of logic? Cities affected by the federal usurpation would include Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and every other city, large or small, that uses a rail system, such as a subway. Washington...

Greeting fellow freepers. I am looking for any advice you can offer as I plan a family vacation to southern Germany. Looking at the end of November or first part of December. Not a lot of time to plan so I am open to all your input

The British Library formally opened it’s landmark photography exhibition Points of View last night at a well-attended private view. The exhibition marks the librarys first ever photographic exhibition. It opens to the public free. At a risk of running out of superlatives Points of View is quite simply the best exhibition that the library has ever put on. It is a large show, but never feels unapproachable. It is well designed and laid out and presents a wealth of the library’s treasures... The poison in the veins: “After the fall of Ceausescu, the country has long delayed the opening of...

War, oil shortages, global warming, nuclear bombs, and economic collapse... All of it seems unlikely, but don't you want to be prepared? If you have to jump on a plane (or a boat or a train or a hot air balloon) and head for safety, you want to know where in the world you should go.

I have been a resident of the Hamra district for two years now, where there is anything but routine. As a Chicagoan as well, I compare Hamra to Wicker Park, Chicago. Concentrated with hipsters, artists, intellectuals, old money, and yuppies, it is a neighborhood consistently updating its face with new chains and cozy pubs and demolition of old relic buildings and businesses. It comprises one of the most mixed populations in Lebanon and caters to that with anything from a brothel to a Dunkin Donuts coffee. I entered Hamra as a stranger, meeting individuals at this party or that pub....

And now, it's time for a little FR musical interlude--everybody sing along! :-)

Great Manifestation anti-avortement à Madrid (English Translation) Over one million people participated in this mobilization organizers said. They were protesting against the proposed liberalization of abortion which would abort freely within 14 weeks. Seniors, families with children and strollers, groups of adolescents, religious and priests: A human tide has flooded the center of the Spanish capital. They were more than one million Catholics supported by the Church and the right to protest Saturday in Madrid against the proposed liberalization of abortion from the socialist government. The organizers have amounted to 1.5 million people participating in this event, while the Madrid...

I know Dart is extending light rail to D/FW Airport. Which is going to be great. Still, I can't help but wish Dallas would be on the cutting edge of something like this. Why aren't we building a high-speed airport train? We've talked about state-wide high-speed rail, but what about local high-speed train? How cool would it be to have a bullet train that goes from downtown Dallas to downtown Ft. Worth at over 125 mph? I'd take it. Comments Posted by Jeffrey J. Brown @ 7:58 AM Fri, Oct 16, 2009 This past weekend, at a conference in Denver,...

Seattle pilot, others "should have walked away" from crash By LEVI PULKKINEN SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF Gravity and, likely, a mechanical failure brought down the helicopter in August 2007, impacting on a hillside a few miles outside of Easton. It was the fire that followed that ended the lives of four on board, a timber owner, two Korean furniture makers and the pilot. And that fire, attorneys for one of the dead now claim, could have easily been prevented had the helicopter's manufacturer acted to remedy a long-known design flaw in the popular aircraft. Ilyas Akbari, an attorney representing killed furniture manufacturer...

ATTENTION: IMAGES ARE SHOCKING . http://www.fdesouche.com/articles/70467#/ (SHORT SUBJECT :: MY PAL RACHID) Court métrage – 1995 – Mon copain Rachid - Réalisé par Philippe Barassat – Avec Jonathan Reyes, Nordine Mezaache, Mathieu Demy et avec la participation de Frédéric Mitterrand (SHORT SUBJECT :: MY PAL RACHID) This video, with intro and voice over by Frederic Mitterrand has surfaced. Frederic Mitterrand, already in hot water in France for his impassioned defense of child rapist Roman Polanski, and his autobiographical "confessions" of participating in "sex tourism" to poor, impoverished third world countries to patronize brothels for sex with young boys. French Minister...

Monday evening, 9-11pm ET,,, 6-8pm PTSpecial Guest: Terri K, the instigator of the Hawaiian open records law investigation of Barack Obama's Birth Certificate and related documentation. There are new developments. Hear how she and Leo Donofrio each continue to uncover the cover-up... You may also wish to hear the prior Monday's Awakening, with guest, Leo Donofrio. For further information, see "The Hawaiian Investigation of Birth Certificate Attestations & Realities," in Investigating Obama. The Awakening, with Arlen Williams Upcoming Episodes10/13/2009 9:00pm ET - The Dave Levine Show 10/14/2009 9:00pm ET - Weekly Candor with Wish - The Truth About Vaccines

PHILADELPHIA -- Dan McSweeney has a few ideas for saving the United States. That would be the SS United States -- the fastest ocean liner in the world. Bigger than the Titanic and fast enough to water-ski behind, she's a steamship so sophisticated, her capabilities remained a Cold War secret for decades. She transported royalty and starlets. Her crew served frog legs in first class. Before the dawn of the jet age, the SS United States was the Concorde of her era. 'Big U' in Big Trouble? Admirers call her the "Big U." Today, she could be in big trouble....

Yesterday, Paul-Emic, a conservative French Blogger (Politique, émois et moi) alerted our readers on the below Journal du Dimanche (JDD) articles that were causing quite an stir from Paris to Rio. I have attempted to translate from French to English each of the articles. Please remember Pilots are called “Drivers” in the translation. I have also included a You Tube video for a F14 “Flat Spin” to illustrate a “Flat Spin”. I seriously doubt the FO as well as most pilots would have been able to pull out of a flat spin. The best way to get out of a...

A stunned media was left speechless when President Barack Obama’s personal sales pitch on behalf of Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Games failed to sway the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Of the four contending bids, Chicago’s was the first to be rejected—giving it a last place finish in the event. MSNBC’s Ed Schultz called the outcome “fishy.” “When the most persuasive man on the planet can’t sell a bunch of Eurostiffs on the benefits of a great city like Chicago, something ugly and obscene is going on,” Schultz opined. “One can only wonder if the racism fomented by...

Video showing a walk-through from the scene on American Samoa.

...There was this old Buick, a big late 60’s road yacht, crammed into the back of the trailer. The man and wife inside were hurt although not terribly so. But behind them was the little Datsun pickup truck (remember those?) that had hit the Buick hard enough to shove it into my trailer. The two girls inside were badly injured. The driver’s forehead had been essentially peeled back and the flap of skin was hanging down over her face. I eased it back into place and held it there to slow her bleeding until an ambulance arrived. The other girl’s...

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am overwhelmed by the number of suggestions offered for visiting New York City. There were so many that I decided to offer a joint thank you rather than post individually. I've printed the suggestions to take to our planning meeting next week, so the six of us can narrow down our priorities for the short time we are there. I just knew the folks at Free Republic wouldn't let me down. Thanks again.

Governor Sarah Palin said the US government was wasting taxpayer’s money and could aggravate poverty, said delegates at her first speech outside North America on Wednesday. Sarah Palin, gave hundreds of financial big-hitters at the CLSA Investors' Forum in Hong Kong a wide-ranging speech that covered Alaska, international terrorism, US economic policy and trade with China.

I guess you might consider this a "vanity" post, but didn't know where to post it. Myself and five other gals are going to New York City for five days in Nov. for sight-seeing, shopping, Broadway shows, etc. Has anyone here ever bought/used the New York Pass and/or hop-on hop-off bus pass? None of us have been to New York City before (at least not in the last 30 years) and wonder if this is something we should purchase ahead of time, or is it a big rip-off? Thanks for any help you can offer.

Hong Kong — Governor Sarah Palin is expected to speak about US foreign policy and China in her first keynote speech outside North America, Hong Kong organizers said on Monday. The Governor is due to address hundreds of financial big-hitters at the CLSA Investors' Forum on Wednesday. "We have asked her to address US foreign policy, to discuss her views on governance, healthcare, and of course, China," Jonathan Slone, chief executive officer of the Asia-focused brokerage.

OK: here's why I got kicked out of the U.S. Navy, short version. Autumn, 1984: I was a 4.0 (top-performing) sailor, a petty officer (NCO) right out of "A" School (Navy vocational training school), and was on the fast track to a great career as a naval nuclear power worker -- until I lost my marbles. Summer, 1985: It happened while I was in Nuke School (Naval Nuclear Power School, then located in Orlando, Florida): the stress levels, lack of sleep, and physical environment of Rickover City triggered in me a full-on case of clinical depression, complete with physical symptoms...

This article focuses on health care issues when going on vacation. Everyone loves a vacation. Americans are known to for going on vacation during various times of the year, and usually those times coordinate with work schedules or school calendars. Spring break, summer time, and major holidays are the most frequent times. You can spend a little or a lot, and you can have tons of activities or do nothing at all--just relax. Vacations are what you make them, and many times can be the best way to get time away from work, school, or the hectic pace of everyday...

Some may remember that due to the job market I had planned on leaving California for Boston for work. Fortunately God had better things planned for me and provided me with work in Dallas, TX (Lewisville to be exact). So I was wondering if any Freepers had any hints on where to live in the area, general comments on places to go with a young family (3 kids under the age of 5), etc. I think we're going to love Texas (minus the weather - we're coming from CA)! Thanks for the help FRiends! This is exciting AND scary, I've...

Lately I have been looking at the moon and wondering if it will someday kill me. If I live another 50 years (which is entirely possible) I assume I will eventually be a robot, having shed my old skin and bones body and uploaded a scanned and digitized version of my brain to a machine. My fellow robots and I will live among the meat people for eons until the moon's orbit degrades, either gradually or because a meteor gives it a nudge, and Earth is annihilated in the collision. You might say I worry too much. But I've successfully...

Czechs feel betrayed, Poles irked, Romanians slighted. Ask them who's to blame, and the answer may come as a surprise: Obama. George W. Bush fawned over Eastern Europe, and its leaders rushed to join his post-9/11 "coalition of the willing." Now many—officials and ordinary citizens alike—are grumbling over what they perceive as the Obama administration's neglect. It's a startling shift in a region long accustomed to cozy ties with the United States.

The Hill has reported that the media will not be permitted to attend Governor Palin’s keynote speaking engagement on Wednesday the 23rd of September. This is great news considering the media has become an embarrassment and in my opinion the most dangerous entity in the world, al Qaeda #2. It is very simple, they have sided with radical Islam verse America, put Obama into power and continue to cover for him, at our detriment, despite the disaster he is and is creating.

From Alex M. in Belgrade, Serbia:For all my friends abroad - those of you who wish to learn about Belgrade or are planning to come for a visit, and for my countrymen abroad who feel nostalgic for home, I have written my own guide to Belgrade. A lot of effort went into this. I appreciate you taking the time to read this. Read it slowly, and try to imagine the pictures as you are reading. Enjoy!NOTE from Ravnagora: I have included the photos in Alex's piece and they have been taken from various sources on the internet. ***** According to...

This is a phenominal video. Would not have believed it unless I had seen it. Makes me want to take a trip over there and spend some time with these old boys to experience it in person. HUNTING WOLVES WITH GOLDEN EAGLES IN MONGOLIA Big birds those. Wouldn't want a couple of those sic'ed on me I will tell you. Look at the size of those talons. Looks like in many cases they go after the throat and then hold them there...and in a couple of cases when it looked like the wolf might get the upper hand...another Eagle quickly...

I have been spending some time in Thailand and it is amazing to me what I see there, America in the 60's. I see things there that were in America in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, but no longer. Makes me remember when I was going up we had: - pick up games of Baseball and football with the neighborhood kids. I do not see this today. - Dogs without leashes - riding in the back of a pickup - go carts - and this list goes on. Stuff that pisses me off: - Riding lawnmowers that cannot reverse without...

Attention Texas Patriots: Diane Kraft has last minute news for those that want to go to the nationwide rally September 12th in Washington, D.C. Please contact Diane Kraft at kraftranches@wildblue.net to RSVP. A bus driver that's taken Diane's group on three trips in the past few months can arrange travel to and from D.C. "The bus is great and has a bathroom ---and he's a good driver!!" says Diane. Anyone from San Antonio up IH-35 all the way to Dallas can join. The bus driver can pick up anyone along the way, so you don't have to join the trip...

police have targeted those who “break their fast publicly” and if caught eating or drinking anything in daylight, police have arrested them immediately, including one man who was purchasing juice for his family. That man, Ahmed Mustafa, was quoted by al-Youm al-Saba’a as saying “I was standing at the store buying juice for my children for Iftar [meal that breaks the fast],” adding that he was indeed fasting. He is just one of many citizens who have felt the heavy hand of Egyptian police during the holy month. It is part of an odd campaign launched by the interior ministry...

“Everyone was convinced that there had to be a change. The DPJ will form the Government but we will not be arrogant and we will lead according to the will of the people.” The DPJ promises free secondary education, free treatment and delivery for expectant mothers, and an annual allowance of 312,000 yen (£2,000) to all children until they leave junior school. There will be a crackdown on the practice known as amakudari — “descent from the heavens” — whereby retiring civil servants secure jobs in the industries that they formerly supervised. “Japan now needs to make a clear shift...

A few weeks ago, Government Motors dropped a public relations bomb when new chief Fritz Henderson announced that the forthcoming Chevy Volt would get an astonishing 230 miles per gallon (that's 98 kilometers per liter, for our metric-system friends). We'll stop short of calling it a fabrication and instead chalk it up to a classic apples-to-oranges comparison. After all, the Volt will be powered more by coal than by oil. United States EPA mileage guidelines are based on a bunch of hypothetical “typical” driving patterns. And the makers of conventional and plug-in hybrid cars are lobbying hard to change those...

While the exact route of the Great Wagon Road has not been preserved, as such, we know that in Virginia and West Virginia, from the Potomac to the Roanoke Valley, it is either under or parallel to Route U.S. 11. Because the highway has been regraded, straightened, widened, and sometimes relocated and sometimes expanded to three and four lanes, it is often hard to know whether you are on, or simply driving parallel to, the Great Wagon Road. Except . . . there are places where you can be relatively certain that you are on the old road. [Pictures]

I was buying a diet Dr. Pepper in the Birmingham airport snack bar when he walked in behind me. Wearing desert camouflage and carrying a backpack, he appeared to be in his early 20's. He chose a soda and got in line behind me. I pulled out some cash and told the clerk, "Let me get his, also," nodding at the young man behind me. I know someone who does these things much more gracefully than I. He's seen more than one soldier eating a meal with his family and he's quietly picked up the tab, exiting before they have...

Folks, check your NJ driver license for the expiration date. How often do you look at your license? Like me, probably not very often. The other day, I pulled out my license in preparation for an ID screening (for a potential job opportunity). When I looked at it, I noticed it had expired IN JANUARY. And I NEVER received a notice to renew. Like you, I have the new high-tech license -- which can't be renewed by mail. You'd think they would send a notice to renew. So I'm going down to DMV first thing in the morning to straighten...

Frommer's Travel guide guru Arthur Frommer said yesterday in his blog that he is considering recommending an Arizona travel boycott because of recent open firearms carry in a non secure area at an Obama speech location . And what was the police and Secret Service action was taken to citizens openly carrying guns there? Precisely what it should have been. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. No reaction whatsoever. Although his travel guide is not urging a boycott, not just yet anyway, Frommer said that he will not travel in any state where people can legally carry loaded weapons in the open as...

My son is returning from Japan and needs info regarding international shipping. Any help would be appreciated. He has about three cubic meters of "stuff".

We made the brief music video of chimps, polar bears, zebras, elephants and more at the Baltimore Zoo. We recommend the zoo to anyone visiting Baltimore. Watch video.

This week Arizonans were shocked when iconic travel industry promoter Arthur Frommer blogged that "I will not personally travel in a state where civilians carry loaded weapons onto the sidewalks [and t]ourists should safeguard themselves by avoiding stays in Arizona." Mr. Frommer's comments, touched off a firestorm of criticism - so much so that as of publication of this column, Frommer's blog entry attracted 1,061 comments compared to the usual 8 comments or so for his other blog entries. . . . Well Mr. Frommer? Are you going to keep blogging against travel in your own country? Let us know....

Travel writer Arthur Frommer recently said that he will never visit any place in Arizona again. Is it because he was badly served at a Denny's in Flagstaff? Maybe he didn't like the turn down service at the Motel Six in Phoenix? Perhaps he was mad because the folks at the McDonald's in Tucson didn't recognize him? Nope. It's because Arizonans are fond of the Constitution of the United States, that's why. On his blog, Frommer fretted over the recent appearance of Arizona's law-abiding citizens carrying firearms at a townhall meeting. It so upset his delicate mental balance that he...

The WH and Congress have severely overestimated the charm of President Obama. They believe that when the President speaks the public all feel a tingle running up their legs... The public is smarter than for which the bureaucrats in Washington give them credit… In the old days, when Americans took civics, and took civic life seriously, every schoolboy/schoolgirl knew what a yellow dog was. The phrase, which almost certainly came from Alabama more than three-quarters of a century ago, grew out of the notion that some Southerners would (gladly) vote for a yellow dog if he ran on the Democratic...

Obama Watch: Plum's Exclusive Coverage of the First Family's visit to the Vineyard presents never-before-seen footage of the Summer White House. The President and his family will be staying at Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark on Tisbury Great Pond. Check out the beautiful grounds and boathouse! Blue Heron Farm is owned by William and Molly VanDevender (who are Republicans!) of Mississippi. The property is close to 30 acres and consists of main house, guest house, boat house, horse barn and pasture land, golf green, and pool.

America’s Next Security Front by: Brittany Fortier, August 19, 2009 As United States Marines begin Operation Eastern Resolve, an air and ground assault on Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan, the Center for American Progress (CAP) hosted an Interagency Team led by Ambassador Richard Holbrooke to discuss an “integrated approach” in dealing with the security challenges in the region. Barnett Rubin, Senior Advisor to the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said that the United States should not be putting money solely into “rebuilding the government” of Afghanistan but also focus on “revitalizing” communities through an “agricultural strategy” and “other community...

Georgia: One Year Later by: Anthony Kang, August 14, 2009 A year ago this month, Russian forces invaded the territory of Georgia; five days of heavy military conflict and damage to all sides ensued. Though great disparities exist in official numbers, according to Reuters approximately 400 soldiers and 800 civilians were killed. Of the estimated 200,000 civilians displaced by fighting, approximately 20,000 remain in exile today. But just last week, in events eerily reminiscent of activities leading up to last year’s war, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Georgia of firing mortars into South Ossetia, while Georgia charged the Russian...

Hyundai Motor America said Wednesday it would begin selling its premier luxury sedan in the U.S. late next year, based on the success the South Korean company has had with its other models in the states. Hyundai is bringing the Equus to U.S., piggybacking on the positive response it received from the Genesis sedan, which received the North American Car of the Year award earlier this year. U.S. sales of the Genesis soared 225.5 percent in July, helping Hyundai post an overall sales increase of 19.5 percent. The Equus competes with Lexus, BMW and Mercedes in South Korea.(continued)

General Motors has announced the best expected mileage rating for its upcoming Chevrolet Volt electric car. The 230 mile per gallon best-case-scenario rating seems to have stirred up quite an interest in the vehicle. But at the end of the day can the newly semi-nationalized General Motors really turn expect the Volt to turn the companies falling market share around. Will the American public flock to Chevrolet dealerships in record numbers? And...is the 230 miles per gallon, really that cost effective? Considering the facts, the common sense answer to all of those questions is quite simply NO! And here's why...